Mac Miller's untimely death in 2018 had a profound impact on the creative world. However, his music has remained popular, and his recent certifications demonstrate his enduring appeal. On June 7, Mac Miller's final studio album released before his passing, Swimming, achieved double platinum certification from the RIAA. This signifies two million units sold in the U.S. In February 2021, the album had already received platinum certification, marking Mac's first project to reach that status. Furthermore, the song "Self Care" from the same album has been certified 5x platinum. That has surpassed his previous highest-certified song, "Weekend," a collaboration with Miguel. That track achieved 4x platinum status from his 2015 album GO:OD AM.
Mac Miller's earlier albums, Blue Slide Park, Watching Movies With the Sound Off, and GO:OD AM have all been certified gold. Even his posthumous release Circles has made gold status. Swimming was released in August 2018, a month before Mac Miller's passing. It is often considered his magnum opus and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. It is a testament to the rapper's artistry that was unfortunately snuffed out too soon.
Mac Miller's Posthumous Career
Although he couldn't witness his music's continued success, Mac Miller's legacy lives on through his art. Jon Brion, who worked on Swimming, was enlisted by Mac's estate to help complete the album he had been working on before his untimely death. In 2020, the posthumous album Circles was released to critical acclaim. It debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and achieved Mac's highest sales week for an album, with 164,000 units sold. The lead single, "Good News," became his highest-charting track as a lead artist. It reached No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. Mac Miller's family has been careful and sensitive in handling his legacy since his passing. In 2021, his 2014 mixtape Faces was finally made available on streaming platforms after clearing the necessary samples.
Looking ahead, there is a possibility of new music from Mac Miller. Reportedly, he left behind an extensive collection of unreleased material. After featuring Mac on his album Liberation 2, producer Madlib revealed earlier this year that he is putting the finishing touches on the long-awaited "Maclib" project. He confirmed that this is the same project that was previously reported. He also said that Mac Miller's estate has given approval for its eventual release. At least Mac Miller fans have something to look forward to in the future. For now, they can enjoy the late rapper's continued success.
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